Sir

Let me assure you nothing could give me more uneasiness than the singular & secret manner in which I was obliged to leave France, and being in such Circumstances as not to be able to inform you when nor how, for I was strongly suspicious, that if it came to Beau Marchais's Years [sic ears] he would do his utmost to detain poor Du Coudray who let me assure you is most sincerely attached to our Cause & I believe a true republican.

We had a very disagreeable Passage of five and forty days 'tho all have arrived safe, but we have not been so fortunate as to find an immediate Passage for America which has detain'd us here twelve or fifteen days. there are but few American Vessels that come to this Port, & but few french fitting out from it, tho we sail this very Night in one of about sixty Ton, a remarkable swift Sailer & if we get fifty Leagues clear of the Islands we have no doubt of escaping, we clear out for St Eustatia but are destined for Newbury, there is an American that arrived here from Carolina in fifteen days this is his fourth Voyage which he says shall be his last as he has made his fortune, he has brought Rice which is from 25 to 35 Livres the hundred, he has brought me but little news except the confirmation of the defeat of the Hessians, ー he says the Congress Conduct themselves at present with the utmost secrecy, which prevents so great a circulation of news as formerly General Washington is near Philadelphia with his Army tho' he could not tell me what number it consisted of ー General Lee is certainly taken, and it is suspected was betrayed ー Mr Hancock is not President of the Congress nor could he tell me who was.

he says Paper Currency passes in Eustatia which is hardly credible ー all kinds of Amunition are at a moderate Price tho' Cloths & linens are yet excessively dear ー Rice sells at St Augustin a five shillings a p~und & the Troops are in a most .wretched situation ー I ask'd him a thousand other questions which he seem'd to be ignorant of, in fact he seem'd to be a very ignorant fellow, or I should be able perhaps to give you a more interesting Letter,

he was chased within about ten Leagues of this Coast by a Frigate & three Cruisers, 'they are as insolent as ever they were the last war for they don't suffer a single small french Vessel to pass without searching, almost at the mouth of the Ports, such Politeness of the french Ministry is by no means approved of by the people of this Island who think they have need of a few frigates at lea~t to make themselves a little more respectable than to be treated with such contempt ー Faith I am afraid they intend to be the spectators only of our Battles; with all my heart if they intend also to have no pretensions to the benefits of them which I am afraid is the Contrary every thing appears so here.

The Governor of Martinique who by all accounts was a fine spirited Fellow, was chose Governor of this Island but is since dead which is much regretted.

There are eleven American Vessels lying at the Cape Francois at present, five or six went out of the Mole the other Day one of which was taken the second day she was out owing to her bad sailing but the others easyly escaped, she was carried into Jamaica with many Frenchmen on board of her who lost everything they had, even their Cloaths. I saw one of them who told me the Americans were treated much better than them for they had nothing but bread and Water allow'd them the whole time ー it is currently reported that there are vessels arrived loaded with Artillery & Officers, I wish to God it may be true ー

Mr Du Coudray desires to be most respectfully remembered to you, I entreat you Sir not to take his Silence for disrespect which I assure you he is not capable of, he thinks it the best Apology as you are in some measure offended with him and he is much afraid without reasons sufficiently Just, &it gives me great uneasiness to find you are not perfectly pleased with me for what I dont know, for if my Conduct is blameable it is owing to my Abilities & not to my intentions or inclinations for I declare to you they are as sincere and as ready as our Cause is Just ー I hope to wipe away all Suspicions by my Conduct in America, as Does Du Coudray 'till then be assured of the Sincerity of [&c.]

[Endorsed] Mr Rogers